Our Little Hope: Welcome Henri Charles

Our sweet little Henri Charles is finally here and we are so grateful and blessed. Here is the story:

We were scheduled to be induced, so our ride to the hospital last night was quiet and peaceful.

9 pm: We were settled and I had recieved cervidil (a medicine to help get me ready for labor)

We both got several hours of sleep until...

4 am: some pretty intense contractions started.

5 am: I got the epidural. This was a hard process for me and what was supposed to take around 2 minutes took 3/4 of an hour! Charles wasn't allowed in the room, but I had a great nurse who held my hand all the way through it. By the time the epidural was all finished the doctor, the nurse and I were all drenched in sweat in our 60 degree delivery room! It was worth it though because after that I felt great!

Two hour nap.

just before 7 am: Got started on pitosin (a medicine to get labor going.) 7 am: my wonderful doctor, Dr. Hulme (also Charles' 2 cousin once removed by marriage... is that right Sherri?) came in to check on me. I was 3-4 centimeters dialated.
Another 2 hour nap.

9 am: 7 centimeters dialated.

catnap

9:30 am: fully dialated and Dr. Hulme called.

9:55 am: Dr. Hulme arrives

9: 58 am and a contraction and a half later: our sweet little Henri Charles was here! He was born at exactly 10 in the morning.

Henri weighs 8 pounds 8 ounces and is 20.5 inches long. While they were cleaning him up I could see a little chub on him! Because he was a pretty big baby and he came so fast I have been pretty uncomfortable since the epidural wore off, but now (about 12 hours later) I am feeling much better. Here are some pictures of our sweet boy.

First family photo:

Henri and Mommy:

Henri and Daddy:

Henri and Dr. Hulme:
Henri and Grandma Grace:
Henri with his eyes open :